I recently bought a 10 or 12 year old Chinese elm. Where the people i bought it from have trimmed the branches down. where i want my branches to carry on growing out longer. at the ends where they've cut them. The tips have died and i can clearly see the branches are not going to grow any longer right now. i have seen a youtube video where a whole branch had died and the guy just cut back until he found live wood. then a new branch started growing out of it. any advice would help. thanks for the help

Cutting it back will only show you how far it's dead. I would wait to see if you get any new sprouts, back budding, on those limbs in the next spring or summer. You can then cut back to that new growth. Pics would be helpful as well.

I did try to get pics but it is a very small baby bonsai and my camera isnt advanced enough to show the tips of the branches dying. also. i haven't used forums in a long time and forgot how to get images up to be honest

mallsai, a term used for mass-produced 'bonsai' as available at larger supermarkets, hardware stores etc. Characterized by a very strong s-shaped trunk, no taper and a crew-cut canopy. Not to be confused with a bonsai (http://www.growingbonsai.net/glossary/mallsai/)

It's a commonly used term for a bonsai from a mall or similar setting. They usually have to many repetitive exaggerated artificial looking s shaped bends in the trunk. They are often made from good species though and I will sometimes buy them and air layer them into pieces.